The most empowering tool

[beck]

I sit here in front of my fairly low cost system mostly bought second hand and just cannot shake a smile of my face listening to "Kisses on the Bottom" by Paul McCartney.

Two years ago I was listening to my system thinking it sounded tired so I started searching for a better preamp to replace my old Pretek. I was satisfied with the general sound I was listening to but wanted something "clearer" and more punchy.
My search (after trying out a used Kairn and a Linn 2250) ended where I started with nothing changed. But something had changed in my head.
All the swapping around had finally made me aware of what it was that made me cling to what I had and where to go next.
I could not live without a really tuneful system. Only one change made my system better. I simply sent the signal directly from my Sondek via my Linto to my LK100 as I was not prepared to pay for a Lejonklou preamp (Lejonklou which I had discovered during the above period).
Next up was finding the most tuneful interconnect among the pairs I had at home. I ended up with the pair of Linn black I use today (instead of a pair of Linn Silver I also own).

Why tell this once more?

I could not have done it without the Tune Method. I dared to go against normal conventions because I could hear what carried the tune best! This is not easy as I know. The previous 30 years or so of my hifi life I had to listen to what others told me was best even though I had some thoughts about what I liked. I was lucky that Linn when I bought my first real system was dead serious about the Tune Method (Ivor was at least). When it finally dawned on me what was wrong I could hardly believe what was going on. Why do recordings and hifi equipment ruin what is as important to music as oxygen is to life on earth. I did not believe it at first but sure enough they do.

Back to McCartney. A couple of days ago I made a visit to my local hifi shop and as I was walking through the store I heard "Kisses on the Bottom" played on a new Primare streamer through Naim equipment and a pair of
very large Dynaudio speakers. So smooth and nice was the sound that most people would think: what a great system. My conclusion was: what a waste of money. Nice "out of tune" music that I could only dismiss by using the Tune Method. I knew on the spot that this would never make me happy.

The Tune Method is the most empowering tool anyone can use when buying equipment that should be able to play recorded music in ones home but it is a tool that is not easily found.
When you find it you just have to listen to decide what is best for you and your enjoyment of music. In the meantime you could listen to Lejonklou products and hope that it finally dawns on you what the Tune Method is all about.

[Efraim roots]

Don't forget source first!!

[beck]

Yes, I am not pointing fingers at any of the mentioned equipment but just making it clear how powerful the Tune Method is. If it was the recording, the equipment, setup, cables or something else that was responsible for the "out of tune" music I cannot say and the Sondek is quite an opponent to be up against!

[Efraim roots]

Sorry, I was little short. What I meant was just, don't forget source first as it's the most powerful way to obtain a truly great performing system. When it comes to "what tune dem is all about", you must include source first. Nice post otherwise, I agree with you!

[lejonklou]

Well put, beck!

Yes, you've said it before, but it can't be said too many times: The Tune Method is essential to build a great system. And to build any part of a great system.

Source First is what we end up with when applying the Tune Method. It's a consequence. And it needs to be experienced to be fully understood. It's very easy to start imagining that something later in the chain (e.g. loudspeakers and room compensation) will make a bigger difference to the system than improving source or amplification.

Then a comparison is needed! I need to repeatedly hear it to once again believe it - that even a very modest change earlier in the chain makes a more profound difference than anything done later.

If you take Source First to its extreme, you end up at the musicians performing the song. And then it becomes easy to understand that if they have a good day and make something magic, nothing later in the long chain to your ears will ever make a difference that can compete with that. The surprising thing is that this hierarchy applies to all the steps in between the musicians and your ears.

All of the above is valid only if your goal is to get a musical thrill. Audiophiles in search of a pretty sound don't need to pay attention to any of this. They can keep their focus on source last details like room compensation and how two wrongs can sometimes seem to make a right (with this I am referring to the belief that a combination of gear with opposite faults or sonic characters can result in something much better).

[u252agz]

Beck

Agree with your post.

My issue with tune dem is that no hi fi dealer ever mentioned it and for years I assumed that all systems were in tune and differed only in sound.

It is only recently I have realised that sources and systems vary hugely in tunefulness and that sound is a very secondary matter which is only relevant if the system is in tune.

It also takes a lot of confidence and courage to say to a reputable dealer that the system costing many thousands sounds quite poor, and much worse than the significantly cheaper system at home.

For me, my version of tune dem is actually very easy - if I want to continue listening to the music it is tuneful - if I want to turn it off or leave the room - it isn't.

The more tuneful it is - the more enjoyable it is and the less you want to leave the room.

If you immediately start chatting to the salesman - when the music comes on , this is not a good sign.

[Charlie1]

If you immediately start chatting to the salesman - when the music comes on , this is not a good sign.

+1
Inversely, if I'm listening to some good music at home and it feels disrespectful to have to stop listening part way through a song, or even an LP side, then I know it's all good.

[beck]

Well, dealers have a job and it is to sell so most of the time it is easier just not to speak about something that even a trained musicians as myself can have a hard time understanding.
Last time I talked about tunefullness to a Linn dealer he just stated that Linn had "been there and done that" so it was not a problem anymore! I didn't dig any deaper into it as it would not have gotten me anywhere nearer an understanding with this dealer.
Many dealers and many people do not hear this problem. Even at Linn I guess only a few people (Ivor T among them) really can hear what it is about!

I am just glad that it has become much easier to select the right recording/setup/system for me to enjoy music at home the most!

[Charlie1]

Beck, do you think people vary to any great extent in their ability to know if, and by how much, a system or recording is out of tune? In other words, are some people unable to hear very much difference?

[beck]

Let me start by saying that the kind of "out of tune" we experience when listening to a hifi system can be compared to when you look into a slightly warped mirror.
The image of you is slightly warped (out of tune). Only if the mirror is perfectly flat it shows you like you are (in tune).
This can vary in infinite small or very big steps from system to system or from recording to recording. I like to think of "out of tune" systems/recordings
as being able to "look around corners" by changing "reality" not giving you a true perspective of the music.

The "out of tune" I hear at work as a music teacher is different as reality has not been changed but different tones are not at the right pitch causing unpleasent sounds to come to my ears.

To answer your question: yes I do think we vary to some extent in our ability to detect the above kind of "out of tune"-ness but I also think that everybody will enjoy the music more through a tuneful system.

[Charlie1]

Thanks Beck. I think you guys are more sensitive to tunefulness than me, based on the playtime thread, that's why I asked. And if that's true then it could be the case that some people are far less sensitive than all of us and just don't get it or hear any benefit.

[beck]

Unwillingly I have to agree with your last statement.

[u252agz]

Inversely, if I'm listening to some good music at home and it feels disrespectful to have to stop listening part way through a song, or even an LP side, then I know it's all good.

The problem comes when the wife or children come into the room for a chat - or even worse someone walks in with the telephone saying 'its for you', and you know it could be your mother or even mother in law.

This is where Sagatuns ability to remain musical at low volumes really comes into its own - this with the inspired Mute button , which with one press allows you to hear the tune and yet hold a conversation at the same time.